Mental health early deaths ‘worrying in one in four areas’

Nearly one in four areas of England has unacceptably high rates of early deaths among people with mental health problems, a report suggests.

The warning by independent experts funded by the Cabinet Office came after they looked at deaths before 75 in 2011-12 in more than 200 local areas.

In each area, the premature mortality rate was higher among those with mental health problems.

But in 51 areas, it was judged to be “particularly worrying”.

It is well known that people with mental health problems die earlier. But this is the first time death rates have been analysed down to a local level.

Overall, the premature death rate among those with mental health problems was 2.4 times higher than that of the general population.

The review – by the Open Public Services Network, part of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce – said the physical health needs of people with mental health problems were not being addressed.

The report found that while suicide was undoubtedly a “significant” factor in the high number of early deaths, poor physical health was likely to be responsible for about two-thirds of it.

Researchers looked at 200 different sources of data as part of their review and found those with mental illness were:

6% less likely to have blood pressure tests

9% less likely to have screening for cervical cancer

15% less likely to have a cholesterol check

Those identified with the very worst performance on premature deaths were the places where rates were above average and where there was the biggest difference between mortality in the general population and those with mental health problems.

Many of these areas have high levels of deprivation, as would be expected, but a number of relatively affluent places were also flagged up.

For example, Bath and North East Somerset, Wokingham and the London borough of Kingston all had premature death rates in the general population below the national average but high rates among those with mental illness.

Paul Farmer, of the mental health charity Mind, said the report should act as a “wake-up call”.

“It is shocking that people with severe mental health problems die much younger than the general population, often from preventable conditions which ought be picked up through routine testing and screening,” he added.

Mental Health Minister Alistair Burt said the issues highlighted by the report were “really important” and needed addressing.

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Protesters in King’s Lynn fight against mental health service cuts

Protesters took to the streets of King’s Lynn to voice their anger at what they described as “continuous” cutbacks to mental health services in west Norfolk.

Mental health cuts protest

A protest march against cuts to mental health services and the Fermoy Unit at the QEH took place in King's Lynn town centre. Picture: Matthew Usher.

More than 100 campaigners marched from The Walks through the town centre before finishing outside the Majestic Cinema.

Peter Smith, former parliamentary candidate for south-west Norfolk said: “We are in the fight of our lives here.”

The protest was triggered by the Fermoy Unit, an in-patient NHS facility in Lynn for mental health, which campaigners say faces an uncertain future. The unit was briefly closed to new admissions earlier this month, but reopened last week, albeit with fewer beds.

Mr Smith said: “In my lifetime we have never had to fight like this, but what is the alternative?”

But Debbie White, director of operations for Norfolk at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said there were now no plans to axe the Fermoy Unit.

She added: “It is right that mental health services should be valued and funded on the same level as acute health services, and it is understandable people feel passionate about the Fermoy Unit remaining open.”

Labour party activist Jo Rust insisted the issue would not disappear. She said: “They have been talking about closing it for a long time. We will fight and we will not let them do that.”

Beth Anthony, 18 of Dersingham, said: “We are here to protest against the continuous cuts to the mental health service, we think it’s unacceptable. My younger brother suffers from poor mental health and has to travel to London... That is to the detriment of my family because we have to pay for him to go down by train every single month.”